Springwater Township council has approved spending more than $8.5 million on a new fire station in Midhurst as part of a future community hub.
The township says the station will be an "integral part" of its future community hub, which will be located at 1132 Snow Valley Rd.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with an estimated completion date in mid-2025.
During a special council meeting on May 10, councillors authorized hiring Masri-O as the project architect to oversee the contract administration and field review processes. Berkim Construction was also selected as the successful proponent for the design-build phase of the project.
Council approved an additional $730,065, bringing the total project budget to $8,530,065. This budget includes expenses for architectural consultants, the design-build contractor, and furnishings and security features.
“Thank you to council for giving staff the go-ahead to proceed with construction on the new fire station in Midhurst," Fire Chief Jeff Kirk said in a news release. “The new facility will provide much-needed upgrades to our training, maintenance and administrative functions.
"We look forward to seeing this project come to fruition so that we can continue to provide residents in the growing southern portion of our township with the highest level of service our residents have come to expect," Kirk added.
The new fire station will feature a four-bay apparatus area, support and vehicle maintenance sections, administration and training spaces, and residential areas, including a day room, kitchen, fitness space, and washroom facilities.
In addition to the new fire station, the township says the future community hub is expected to encompass various amenities, including a recreation center offering both active and passive recreational opportunities, a library and creative space, meeting and activity areas, as well as a new Simcoe County paramedic post.
At the recent meeting, council also discussed multiple options regarding the master plan for the community hub. Township staff were instructed to collaborate with the consultants to review the presented options and report back with additional information in the near future.
